DISARMAMENT

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21088, 13 February 1934, Page 9

DISARMAMENT

FRENCH OBJECTION TO STORM TROOPS SIGNIFIC AN T COMMUNICATION TO MR HENDERSON (uxn-BD tress association-h? elictbic TELEGEAPn—COPVRIGHT.) (Received February 12, 8.6 p.m.) PARIS, February 12. It is understood that the Cabinet is informing Mr Arthur Henderson < president of the Disarmament Conference) that France insists on taking full account of semi-military formations in certain countries, particularly the German storm tro_ops. It is considered significant that the storm troops are selec/ed for special emphasis, as this suggests that France is disinclined to consider the transformation of her army proposed by the British dr.vft convention unless the storm troops are disbanded.

[The British draft convention proposed that, with a view to limiting the power of aggression, land forces on the Continent should be reduced to a militia basis. The maximum period of training, it was suggested, snoulu be eight months, with the proviso that in cases, approved by the conference, this might be extended to 12 months to meet differing conditions in certain states. In these cases, the number of soldiers trained would be reduced. The drait convention provided for the limitation of all "formations organised on a military basis," which included all police forces, gendarmerie, customs officials, forest guards, and any bodies capable of being employed for military purposes without mobilisation.] ! GERMAN REARMAMENT ALLEGED STORV OF UNDERGROUND AIR-PARKS (Received February 12, 11.20 p.m.) BRUSSELS, February 12. "L'lndcpendance Beige" asserts that Germany has hastily constructed underground air-parks, for which the Pomeranian specimen is a model. Powerful bombing aeroplanes have been stored at the Reichswehr depots in Mecklenburg. Twenty-live hangars have been built near Berlin, the newspaper alleges. It adds that all this constitutes a grave danger to Great Britain in the event of war.